In Meeting God at the Boundaries: Cross-Cultural–Cross-Racial Clergy Appointments (2003), Lucia Ann McSpadden offered a penetrating analysis of the struggles as well as the joys and opportunities experienced by persons engaged in cross-cultural–cross-racial ministry in The United Methodist Church. Soon after the book was published, it became apparent that a volume was needed that would offer the various individuals and groups involved in this ministry hands-on, practical understanding, skills, and competencies for serving in cross-cultural–cross-racial ministry.

Meeting God at the Boundaries: A Manual for Church Leaders fills that need. It provides succinct summaries of the basic concepts and competencies in cross-cultural–cross-racial understanding and communication. It then offers practical exercises and tools for equipping key leaders and groups involved in this ministry—clergy, their spouses, and families; staff-parish relations committees; district superintendents and bishops—to carry out this ministry effectively and faithfully.